Various improvements to stump cutting tool discs

Abstract

A rotating disc assembly for use on a stump grinder that can include: a rotating disc member having a peripheral edge and defining a central axis and a radial direction; a bit securing sub-assembly comprising a bit holder member mechanically connected to the rotating disc member and having a first portion extending in a first direction, and a second portion extending from said first portion along a second direction that is not parallel to said first direction; a bit mechanically connected to the bit holder member by a fastening hardware; and a first portion of the peripheral edge extending a further distance in the radial direction than a second portion of the peripheral edge; wherein the bit and the bit securing sub-assembly are sized, shaped, located and/or connected so that the first bit is at least partially shielded by a footprint of the first portion of the peripheral edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotating disc assembly for use on a stump grinder comprising:
 a rotating disc member having a peripheral edge and defining a central axis and a radial direction; 
 a bit securing sub-assembly comprising a bit holder member mechanically connected to the rotating disc member and having a first portion extending in a first direction, and a second portion extending from said first portion along a second direction that is not parallel to said first direction; 
 a bit mechanically connected to the bit holder member by a fastening hardware, wherein the bit includes a cutting side facing a cutting direction and a non-cutting side opposite the cutting side and facing a direction opposite the cutting direction; and 
 a first portion of the peripheral edge positioned in front of the cutting side of the bit and extending a further distance in the radial direction than a second portion of the peripheral edge positioned behind the non-cutting side of the bit; 
 wherein the bit and the bit securing sub-assembly are sized, shaped, located or connected so that the bit is at least partially shielded by a footprint of the first portion of the peripheral edge in the cutting direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The rotating disc assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said bit securing sub-assembly is not permanently mechanically connected to the peripheral edge. 
     
     
       3. The rotating disc assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bit is at least 50% shielded by the footprint of the first portion of the peripheral edge. 
     
     
       4. The rotating disc assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bit is at least 90% shielded by the footprint of the first portion of the peripheral edge. 
     
     
       5. The rotating disc assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bit holder is L-shaped and the first portion and the second portion of the bit holder are connected to form a generally right angle. 
     
     
       6. The rotating disc assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening hardware extends through co-axially aligned holes formed in the bit holder member and the bit. 
     
     
       7. The bit assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said bit further comprises a radial extension in a radial direction greater than a radial extension of the first portion of the peripheral edge in the radial direction measured when said bit holder member is mechanically connected to a peripheral edge of a rotating disc member. 
     
     
       8. The bit assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the peripheral edge tapers in the first direction. 
     
     
       9. The bit assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bit further comprises a substantially planar surface facing the first direction. 
     
     
       10. The bit assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bit further comprises a substantially non-planar surface facing the first direction. 
     
     
       11. The bit assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the peripheral edge further comprises at least one axial extending protrusion on a lateral surface thereof. 
     
     
       12. The bit assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one axial extending protrusion further comprises a side configured to control the flow of chips when the rotating disc member is in use on the stump grinder. 
     
     
       13. The bit assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 the bit holder has a first surface extending a first distance in a first direction, a bottom surface extending a second distance in a second direction, a first side surface extending a third distance in a third direction, and a second side surface extending a fourth distance in a fourth direction; 
 the bit has a top portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein:
 the top portion of the bit extends a further distance in the first direction than the first distance, 
 the first side portion of the bit extends a further distance in the third direction than the third distance; and 
 the second side portion of the bit extends a further distance in the fourth direction than the fourth distance.